IN a game where heroics came a-plenty, Jayson Castro would not be left out.
Castro put TNT on his able shoulders in the last 74 seconds with seven of the team’s last eight points, carrying the team to a 95-92 victory over Phoenix Super LPG last night at the start of their PBA Philippine Cup semifinals duel at the Smart 5G-powered AUF Gym in Angeles City.
Those points made sure the Tropang Giga stayed just beyond the reach of the Fuel Masters, who put up a gallant stand that fell just short in the opener of the best-of-five series.
Phoenix threatened last at 92-93, but Castro delivered the final blows with a pair of charities capping his team-high 20-point, six-assist performance.
TNT coach Bong Ravena was simply glad his team was able to pull through despite blowing as much as a 12-point lead against a side that played minus main man Matthew Wright since past the midway point of the opening quarter and had Calvin Abueva plagued by early foul trouble.
“Phoenix has a lot of energy. We know they’re gonna come out really strong, so we decided to match their energy with our guards,” said Ravena, referring to several instances in the game when he utilized four guards.
